A firecrackin' good time

The skies were blue with no rain in sight as Firecracker Fandango went off with a bang on the Fourth of July.

Mainstreet Odessa expected about 30,000 people to attend the event, and with features such as bands, food and children's games, people didn't just come for the fireworks.

Firecracker Fandango started at 6 p.m. and Fourth Street was instantly filled with people coming to enjoy the festivities.

This year, Fandango included attractions like the CAF flyover, a magician and a concert area for musicians like Maren Morris and Grammy-award winner Ruben Ramos.

With such variety, many families came to enjoy the night with each other.

Laura Guardiola said she goes to Firecracker Fandango "just to go out and have fun with the kids."

But celebrating Fourth of July with the rest of Odessa was what really made Firecracker Fandango a go-to event.

"It's a family fun-filled event to help celebrate with the rest of the community," Norma Aguilar said.

Aguilar was enjoying Fandango at the ORMC Medical Tent, where she was building a wood castle and car with her husband, Thomas, and her kids, Evette, 7, and Marc, 9.

"There's a lot of family activities to where people of all ages can enjoy," Norma Aguilar said.

"And the food's not bad either," Thomas Aguilar added.

And he wasn't the only one who thought so.

People from all around Odessa were eating from the 16 food vendors that lined Fourth Street.

Shirley Sydow, Melanie Sydow and Ashlea Stringer all favored the roasted corn on the cob.

Shirley and Melanie Sydow came to Fandango to watch Stringer dance with the Odessa Roughnecks dance team.

Shirley Sydow said this was their second year to attend the event.

Shirley Sydow said she likes going to Fandango "because of the food, and the fireworks and the people getting together with everyone."